Los Angeles

The most iconic view in LA — the beautiful Art Deco Griffith Observatory, perched high in Griffith Park, with sweeping vistas over the entire sprawling city to the ocean, and a perfect sightline to the Hollywood Sign on the hill opposite. Free to enter, with planetarium shows and telescopes, it's magical at sunset as the city lights blink on. Hike or drive up for the definitive LA panorama and photo; a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. Absolutely unmissable, and free.

The quintessential California beach scene — Santa Monica's famous pier with its Ferris wheel and funfair, marking the end of Route 66, backed by a wide golden beach and the buzzing Third Street Promenade. Ride the wheel, stroll the pier at sunset, rent a bike along the coastal path, or just soak up the sun and surf. Fun, breezy and iconic, it's the classic LA seaside day and a joy for all ages. The perfect place to feel the California dream. A must.

The heart of tinseltown — Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame, where thousands of stars honour the famous underfoot, alongside the ornate TCL Chinese Theatre with its celebrity hand-prints and the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars. Touristy and a little gritty, but an essential slice of movie history and glamour; hunt for your favourite star, snap the theatre, and feel the pull of Hollywood. Best combined with a view of the sign from afar. A bucket-list LA experience.

One of the world's great art museums, and free — the Getty Center, a breathtaking hilltop complex of gleaming travertine buildings by Richard Meier, with superb European paintings (Van Gogh's Irises among them), gorgeous gardens and stunning views over LA to the sea. Ride the tram up, wander the galleries and grounds, and take in the architecture and vistas as much as the art. A cultural and architectural highlight, and a wonderful, free half-day. Utterly unmissable (just pay for parking).

Downtown's cultural one-two — the Broad, a free contemporary-art museum with a stunning honeycomb façade and a superb collection (Warhol, Koons, Kusama's Infinity Rooms), next to Frank Gehry's dazzling silver-swooping Walt Disney Concert Hall. Book the free timed entry for the Broad and its famous mirror rooms, and admire Gehry's architecture next door. A brilliant, free dose of world-class art and design in the heart of resurgent DTLA. A cultural highlight; book the Broad ahead.

LA at its quirkiest — the Venice Boardwalk, a carnival of street performers, artists, skaters, Muscle Beach body-builders and bohemian stalls, plus the surprising, tranquil Venice Canals lined with pretty homes just behind. Wander the boardwalk for the people-watching, browse hip Abbot Kinney Boulevard's boutiques and eateries, then escape to the peaceful canals. Colourful, offbeat and unmistakably LA; a fun, free half-day of the city's creative, eccentric spirit. A local favourite.

A century-old downtown food hall buzzing with the flavours of LA — dozens of stalls serving everything from legendary tacos and pupusas to gourmet sandwiches, ramen, egg sandwiches and craft coffee, packed with locals and visitors. A delicious, lively place to graze your way through the city's multicultural food scene under one roof; come hungry and try a bit of everything. A tasty, atmospheric hub in the heart of resurgent DTLA. A great-value, only-in-LA feast.

LA has some of the best Mexican food outside Mexico, and its taco scene is a religion — from sizzling al pastor off a street cart to birria and fresh fish tacos, cheap, delicious and everywhere. Hunt down a legendary taco truck, line up at a hole-in-the-wall taqueria, and eat like an Angeleno; the quality, variety and value are unbeatable. A tasty, essential part of the LA experience, and a highlight for any food lover. Don't leave without a proper taco (or five).

The Miracle Mile's museum row — LACMA, the largest art museum in the western US (famous for the Urban Light lamp-post installation out front), beside the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a dazzling temple to cinema, and the La Brea Tar Pits with their Ice Age fossils. A rich cultural cluster for a half-day; snap the iconic lamp posts, dive into film history, and see the bubbling tar pits. Something for art, movie and history lovers alike. A superb, central culture stop.

Downtown's coolest corner — the Arts District, a former industrial zone now covered in giant murals and street art, and packed with craft breweries, galleries, roasteries, boutiques and buzzing warehouse restaurants. Wander the mural-lined streets with a camera, sample a craft beer or a superb meal, and soak up the creative, hip energy. A brilliant window into LA's contemporary art-and-food scene, and endlessly photogenic; the perfect place to see the city's cool side. A great afternoon and evening.

Beyond Santa Monica stretches the golden Pacific coast — the Pacific Coast Highway winding north past the surf beaches, coves and celebrity homes of Malibu, and south to Manhattan and Hermosa. Drive the PCH for one of California's great coastal roads, surf or swim at a string of beaches, and watch the sunset over the ocean. A gorgeous, quintessentially Californian escape from the city bustle; rent a car and cruise the coast. A must for beach and road-trip lovers. Idyllic.

The glossy heart of LA glamour — Beverly Hills, with the legendary luxury shopping of Rodeo Drive, palm-lined streets of mega-mansions, the pink Beverly Hills Hotel, and manicured gardens. Even if you're just window-shopping, it's fun to stroll the famous street, spot the designer boutiques and soak up the wealth and celebrity aura; drive the residential streets to gawp at the mansions. A quintessential slice of LA's rich-and-famous side. A pleasant, glamorous wander. Free to look.

The hip, creative east side — Silver Lake, Echo Park and Los Feliz, with their indie coffee shops, vintage boutiques, cool bars, farm-to-table restaurants, the pretty Echo Park Lake and a relaxed, arty local vibe. Café-hop, browse the vintage stores, stroll the lake with its lotus flowers and pedal boats, and eat superbly; it's where cool young Angelenos live and play, far from the tourist trail. The perfect place to feel the real, hip LA. A lovely, laid-back day.

Los Angeles is one of America's great, diverse food cities — a sprawling feast of Korean BBQ in Koreatown, dim sum in the San Gabriel Valley, Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese and Salvadoran food, celebrity-chef restaurants, food halls and endless taco trucks. Graze your way across the city's neighbourhoods and cuisines; the quality and variety are extraordinary and often great value. From a $2 taco to a tasting menu, eating is a highlight of any LA visit. Come hungry and adventurous.

LA's nights are legendary — the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, with its historic rock clubs (the Whisky a Go Go, the Roxy), rooftop bars, celebrity-magnet clubs and restaurants, plus the buzzing scenes of downtown and the east side. Catch live music where the greats played, sip a cocktail on a rooftop with skyline views, or dance till late; the scene is glamorous, varied and star-studded. A brilliant way to spend an LA evening. Dress up and enjoy the show.